Mister or madam president

ABSTRACT

This board game simulates the presidential nomination process and further requires the players of the game to demonstrate their knowledge of American&#39;s immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and the electoral system. The game includes a game board having a serpentine or S-shaped track with a bilateral course, player pieces representing people candidates, trivia and scandal cards, answer key with playing instructions, and dice. All players begin at the debate stage. Each player will draw a card and answer the question presented. A correct answer moves the player forward toward the White House (on left side of the track). However, if the player answers wrong, they will move forward toward Informercial Land (on the right side of the track). The first player to reach the White House space is the nominated candidate for President of the United States.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a board game relating to the demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to the election process. The problem prior to this invention is that American citizens lack information about American's immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system. This present invention will educate players about the topics stated above while entertaining them.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of board games is known in the prior art. More specifically, board games heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of simulating political campaigns. are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,279 to Murphy et al. discloses a game board earning electoral votes to win geographical regions of America. U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,970 to Childs et al. discloses a board game apparatus that simulates pursuit of higher elected political office. U.S. Pat. No. 3,907,299 Kristen discloses a method of playing a board game for vote-getting practices during the election process. U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,967 to Marse discloses an election game to win votes by state. U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,127 to Whitney discloses a board game. U.S. Pat application 20090020948 to Garcia disclosing a game to garner political support from the voting public. U.S. Pat application 20080284103 to Cohen disclosing a multi-tiered election process.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a board game relating to the demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to election. Furthermore, they do not educate players about the topics stated above while entertaining them.

In this respect, the board game relating to the demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing players to simulate a campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination before the election process begins.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and simplified board game relating to the demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while allowing players to simulate a political campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to election. And educates players about the topics stated above while entertaining them. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of board games now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an better board game relating to the demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a political campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination before the election process begins. This present invention also solves the problem of American citizens lacking information about the above stated topics while being entertained. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and simplified board game relating to the presidential nomination process prior to election which has advantages over the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises, in combination, three player pieces each formed in a shape of a person-like candidate and each representing a player.

Two dice each having a cube shape with six faces having different number spots on it, ranging from one to six.

One stack of trivia cards is included and represent twelve categories: immigration, social, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral. Included among these trivia cards are five scandal cards based on true historical events that will delay a player's advancement or eliminate from the player from the game.

The answer key with game playing instructions is in booklet format. It lists the category and number on the back face of the trivia card and the correct answer of the multiple choice, or true or false question. The other players or a mediator must consult the answer key to determine if the player's answer to the trivia question is correct or incorrect. This booklet also contains instructions for how the game is played.

Lastly, an essentially rectangular and planar game board is included and has a starting space representing the initiation of a journey through a Presidential nomination campaign for a player. The starting space is positioned near the periphery of the game board at a corner thereof and is designed to look like a presentation stage where players announce their campaign for candidacy for President of the United States. This space is designed to look like a debate stage. The journey of a player ends at either one of two separate ending spaces; the winner of the game is the first player to reach the White house. The ending spaces are positioned near the periphery of the game board at the cattycorner of the start space thereof the game board. The winning space represents a successful completion of the campaign and nomination for President of the United States. The alternative ending space is designated by a television set, the words “Informercial land”, and 1-800-NOT-ELECTED; that represents an unsuccessful campaign ending and celebrity television fame instead of the most powerful chair in the world. There are 29 bilateral spaces between the starting place and the ending spaces. These bilateral spaces extend radially inward from the starting space to the ending spaces in a generally serpentine or S-shaped configuration. The left side of the track represents correctly answered questions and leads toward the White House space. The right side of the track represents wrongly answered questions and leads toward Informercial Land space. In this present invention, players are always moving forward with each correct or incorrect answer. Players are required to switch tracks for correct or incorrect responses. For Instance, if a player is on the left track toward the White House, but gives an incorrect response to the next question, the player must move forward one space on the right track toward Informercial Land. The innovative design of this present invention will keep player's guessing the winner until the very end of the game.

It is important to reiterate that unlike prior art, this invention is simplified to simulate a player's demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system thus qualifying the player for Presidential nomination before the election process begins.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and simplified board game relating to demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a political campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to the election process which has advantages over the prior art board games and none of the disadvantages, specifically, solving the problem of Americans lacking information about the above stated topics while being entertained.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new board game relating to demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a political campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to the election process which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and basic board game relating to demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a political campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to the election process which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new board game relating to demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a political campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to the election process which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a board game relating to a presidential nomination campaign economically available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and simplified board game relating to demonstrated knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a political campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to the election process which provides advantages in the apparatuses and methods not provided in prior art, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith, specifically, solving the problem of Americans lacking information about the above stated topics while being entertained.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new board game relating to demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a political campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination process before election.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and basic board game relating to demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a political campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to the election process comprising, in combination three game pieces each representing a player; two dice; a plurality of stacks of trivia cards representing categories of immigration, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and the electoral system; five scandal cards; an answer key with game playing instructions; and a game board having a starting space thereon representing the initiation of a journey through a political nomination campaign, ending spaces thereon representing the completion of the campaign, and a plurality of bilateral spaces on two separate track there between.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

A plan view of the game board of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawing, the preferred embodiment of the new board game relating the demonstration of knowledge of American immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system while simulating a campaign to qualify the player for presidential nomination prior to the election process and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number of the drawing will be described.

Specifically, the present invention includes six major components. The major components are the game player pieces, dice, trivia cards, answer key, “Scandal” cards and game board. These components are interrelated to provide the intended function.

More specifically, it will be noted in the various components that the first major component is the game pieces. The present invention includes three game pieces, either common game pieces or distinctive game pieces each shaped in the form of a “person-like” candidate. Each candidate represents a player from a (any) political party. Each game player piece is formed of a wood material and painted to resemble a person.

The second major component is the dice. Each die has a cube-shape with six faces numbered with dotted indicia ranging from one to six. The selection of the game player pieces and subsequent starting play order are determined by rolling the dice.

The third major component is the trivia cards. The present invention includes twelve categories of trivia cards. The categories regard American's immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and electoral system. Each card has a front face and a back face. The front face of the card includes a patriotic art design of an eagle, flag, North American continent, Statue of Liberty, and a heart. The back face of the card includes the title of the category and a number inscribed thereon and a multiple choice, or true or false question regarding the category.

The fourth major component is the scandal cards. The present invention includes five scandal cards. The scandal cards are randomly shuffled within the stack of trivia cards. Two scandal cards contain instructions that will delay the player one turn. Two scandal cards will exclude the player from participating for two turns. One scandal card contains instructions that will eliminate the player from the game. The front face of the card includes a patriotic art design of an eagle, flag, North American continent, Statue of Liberty, and a heart. The front face of the card does not distinguish it as a scandal card. The back face of the card includes a historically based disgrace that will affect the candidate's (player's) campaign progress.

The fifth major component is the answer key with game playing instructions. This component in booklet format lists the categories and numbers on the back face of the trivia card and the correct answer of the multiple choice, or true or false questions. The other players or a mediator must consult the answer key to determine if the player answered the trivia question correctly or incorrectly. This booklet also contains instructions for how the game is played.

The sixth major component is the game board. The game board is essentially rectangular, planar, and rigid in structure. It is adapted to be foldable in the conventional manner to be placed in a stowed configuration. The game board has a playing surface with a starting place (62) representing the initiation of a journey through a political nomination campaign for a player. The starting space is positioned near the periphery of the game board at a corner thereof and is designed to look like a debate stage where players announce their campaign to qualify for candidacy for President of the United States. The journey of a player is terminated in one of two ending spaces (64) or (65); the winner of the game is the first player to reach space 64. The ending space is positioned near the periphery of the game board at the cattycorner of the start space thereof the game board. This space 64 is designated by a White House, word “Victory”, and stars with a blue background (64); that represents a successful completion of the campaign and nomination for election to become the President of the United States. Space 65 is designated by a television set, the words “Informercial Land”, and 1-800-NOT-ELECTED; that represents an unsuccessful campaign ending and celebrity television fame instead of the most powerful chair in the world. There are 29 spaces on a bilateral serpentine or S-shaped track configuration between the starting place (62) and the ending spaces (64) or (65). These bilateral spaces extend radially inward from the starting space to the ending space in a generally S-shaped configuration. The left side of the track conformed of the bilateral spaces has a navy-blue background with light blue stars in each space; this track represents correct answers and leads toward the White House space (64). The right side of the track conformed of the bilateral spaces has a red background with light blue stars in each space; this track represents wrong answers and leads toward Informercial Land space (65). In this present invention, players are always moving forward with each correct or incorrect answer. Players are required to switch tracks for correct or incorrect responses. For Instance, if a player is on the left track toward the White House, but gives an incorrect response to the next question, the player must move forward one space on the right track toward Informercial Land. The innovative design of this present invention will keep player's guessing the winner until the very end of the game.

The categories of the trivia cards are immigration issues, social issues, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal issues, science, national security, education, and the electoral system. The questions on each card are either true or false, or multiple choice and they are identified by category and a number. The answer key reveals the correct answer.

In the preferred embodiment, the game board is between about 15 inches and about 18 inches wide and between about 24 inches and about 30 inches long. There are 130 different trivia cards, and 5 scandal cards.

The object of the game is as the title implies, is to run a successful presidential nomination campaign by demonstrating superior knowledge in the twelve trivia categories while by luck avoiding the scandal cards and winning a place on the election ticket to become President of the United States. Game pieces include a game board, two dice, one stack of trivia and scandal cards, an answer key with player instruction manual, and finally three game player pieces that a player uses to move forward around the game board in the shape of “people-like” candidates.

You start out the game by rolling the dice to determine the player order and game player piece selection order. The highest number will go first, the second highest number will be second, and the lowest number will be last. After the dice have been rolled by all three players, the dice can be set aside as they will no longer be needed. Each player (in determined order) will state the chief problem in America that they want to correct. For example, Student loan debt and college tuition cost. Next, the player will say, “for that reason, I am announcing my candidacy to run for President of the United States.” The player will then place their game piece on the starting place debate stage (62).

Once all three players are on the starting place (62), the first player (in determined order) will withdraw the top card from the shuffled stack (63). The player will read the card aloud and then allow the other players to see it and read it for themselves. If the card is a scandal card, the player will follow the playing instructions. If the card is a trivia card, the player will attempt to answer the question correctly. A fourth participate who is not one of the three players will consult the answer key to determine if the player's answer is correct or wrong. If there is not a fourth participate, the two other players (not the player that answered the trivia questions) will consult the answer key to determine if the player's answer is correct or incorrect. Note: the answering player may confirm his/her answer is incorrect to ensure the other players are truthful. If the player's answer is correct, the player will move their game piece forward one space on the left-side track toward the White House. However, if the player is wrong, the player will move their game piece forward one space on the right-side track toward Informercial Land. This process is repeated by the next two players, then continues in player order. It is important to reiterate that in this present invention players are always moving forward with each correct or incorrect answer. Players are required to switch tracks for correct or incorrect responses. For Instance, if a player is on the left track toward the White House, but gives an incorrect response to the next question, the player must move forward one space on the right track toward Informercial Land. The innovative design of this present invention will keep player's guessing the winner until the very end of the game.

If a player is on the left-side track but answers their next trivia card wrong, they must move forward on the right-side track. If a player is on the right-side track but answers their next trivia card correctly, they must move forward on the left-side track. Throughout the game, players will move forward one space on the bilateral tracks switching from one side of the track to the other side based on correct and incorrect answers. The scandal cards contain playing instructions that will delay or eliminate players from the game.

The first player to reach the White House space (64) wins the campaign. Note: a player can be on the last space on the right-side track toward Informercial Land but answer their next trivia card correctly and land on the White House space (64); representing the unpredictable journey of political campaigns. Likewise, a player can be on the last space on the left-side toward the White House but answer their next trivia card incorrectly and land on the Informercial Land space.

A player is eliminated when they draw the scandal card that ends their campaign, lands in Informercial Land, or another player moves into the White House (64) first.

The winner of the game is the first player that reaches the White House space (64). There is no second or third place winners. In the unlikely event that all the trivia cards and scandal cards are used and no player has reached the White House, then the furthest player on the left track toward the White House and is declared the winner of the game, or the players can reshuffle the stack of cards and continue to game until the first player reaches the White House space (64). However, there are enough cards to play a single game when players are always moving forward along one of the two tracks determined by correct or incorrect answers.

Approximate playing time will vary from 45-75 minutes with three players.

Most people have imagined what it would be like to be President of the United States, or even stated, “If I where President.” But most American's lack basic knowledge of foreign policy, immigration impact, national security, or the economy. This game is designed to be fun, but also educational and enlightening. This game is meant to simulate a fictional presidential nomination campaign while informing the players and promoting patriotism. The players learn together and through healthy competition, gain a deeper appreciation for their homeland.

Shown below are some examples of the trivia cards and scandal cards included in this board game. The trivia cards for other categories describe similar knowledge-based questions. The other scandal cards provide playing instructions that a player must follow based on true historical scandalous incidents.

Example Cards

It should be noted that additional trivia cards and scandal cards should be made available to interested customers to keep the game from becoming “old.”

As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and changes may readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A political candidate campaign board game apparatus which includes playing cards and playing pieces, for use by a plurality of game participants comprising: a playing board defining a playing surface having a bi-lateral, serpentine or S-shaped track path portion which has a multiplicity of consecutive playing sections; First indicia containing the design of a debate stage where each game participant states their opinion of the chief issue in America and announces the launch of their campaign for presidency of the United States. Next twenty-nine bi-lateral indicia consisting of multiplicity of consecutive playing sections along a serpentine or S-shaped track path allows game participants to switch tracks throughout the game based on correct or incorrect responses to questions on playing cards. Last two indicia consisting of a victory space represented by an image of the White House and a loser space represented by an image of a television with the words and numbers, 1-800-NOT-ELECTED and Informercial Land. A set of playing cards including twelve trivia categories (immigration, social, economy, foreign policy, healthcare, domestic policy, environmental, criminal, science, national security, education, and electoral system) and five scandal cards (based on true historical scandalous incidents that will delay progress or eliminate the game players) to be distributed to game participants throughout play that requires said game participant's response. Three common playing pieces or distinctive playing pieces (each shaped in the form of a “person-like” candidate) for positioning on said bi-lateral multiplicity of consecutive playing sections along a serpentine or S-shaped track path, each of which represents one of said game participants, such positioning determining the location a game participant employs. 